The Official 2013 Ashes Thread

[Total Longo]

Agreed. Root is also England second highest run scorer in the series isn't he? He must be doing something right.

 

Taylor for Bairstow.

 

Think KP has scored more than Root, but not 100% certain.

[Jairzinho]

Cricket Records | The Ashes, 2013 - England | Records | Batting and bowling averages | ESPN Cricinfo

 

80 from Root's seven other innings. Which is a worry.

[Jose Jones]

Cricket Records | The Ashes, 2013 - England | Records | Batting and bowling averages | ESPN Cricinfo

 

80 from Root's seven other innings. Which is a worry.

 

The top 3 haven't performed at all. If they had it would have been slaughter. Cook and Trott both average a tick under 50 though and Root has obvious class. I'd back them to be better in Aus. This is also perhaps Prior's worst series. A lot more to come from England that I think is just down to form.

[s(k)aturation]

Skaro seems to be staying away while his side are cruising to victory.

 

No, just sleeping.

 

Fortunately.

[s(k)aturation]

Good bowling, inept batting.

Khawaja, not Test standard, let alone No3.

Smith, not Test standard either.

Watson, falling all over a ball trying to hit to leg, when there's only 3 men on off.

Demoralising.

Invertebrate.

England will now win 4-0, then come to Australia and play themselves into some form!

[A_S]

Rogers, Clarke and Warner can at least know they were done by really good bowling. The bowlers are bowlers so I'm not hanging anything on them regarding this collapse.

 

Khawaja, Watson, Smith and Haddin, just dumb, dumb, dumb and fucking weak. You should be ashamed of yourselves to let the position you were given go to waste so meekly.

 

I'm not sure the English batsmen will just snap their fingers and find form though. The Aussie bowlers have kept them honest throughout (except Bell, who has been outstanding) and I'd be surprised if it changes dramatically in Australia when the Ashes are again up for grabs.

 

The most frustrating thing is that each of the batsmen have shown at least glimpses of their ability throughout this series, but the consistency and the mental toughness is just nowhere to be found. Rogers looks like he might go out every other ball, but he values his wicket and puts bad bowling away (one full toss aside!) Warner looks like his very public humiliation might have done him some good. He batted really well against Swann and it was a great delivery from Bresnan that got him.

 

Overall, I think Australia could have gone to Australia thinking they were a chance to make something of the series had they won this Test (or any of them, for that matter). To lose in a such a way must be demoralising though, so the Oval could see some guys playing for their spot for the Australian series.

[Champ]

Any accidental expletives ?

 

Tell you what though, we could not believe that there were people - and I mean dozens of people - who were leaving early "to avoid the traffic".

 

Here's a tip for anyone who ever want's to get away from any sporting event early, just "to beat the traffic" : cut out the middle man, don't fucking go in the first place.

 

Haha, you havent met my folks! My Mum would have been giving the Queen a run for her money and my Dad would have just nodded sagely and repeated 'Very good, very good.'

 

And early leavers? Have these people no soul? What were they thinking when they were watching the match that allowed them to leave like that?

'Leaving early to miss the traffic' should be dealt with with a lifetime ban. These people are taking seats from people who know how to live a little

[Guest LFD]

I hope England are considering Tremlett for when the team play in Australia.

[s(k)aturation]

People that go to sporting events to leave early to beat the traffic don't deserve sport.

[mattyq]

Went to watch the women's test match yesterday at Wormsley

Lovely ground built into a hillside on John Paul Getty's estate in the Chilterns.

Really pleasantly surprised at the standard exhibited by both teams although the Aussies looked far superior as England's batting collapsed

Quite a few hotties too

[A_S]

I like Boof's thinking

[Wezza]

I hope England are considering Tremlett for when the team play in Australia.

 

I suspect Tremlett will play at The Oval, and one of the other bowlers will be "rested" (maybe Anderson). I think they will do whatever they can to get Tremlett in the team in Australia, as the pitches seem perfectly suited to him, and he did once he got in the team last time cause a lot of problems.

[Dan Vito Corleone]

Wouldn't surprise me if we considered a second spinner at the Oval.

[Paul]

Wouldn't surprise me if we considered a second spinner at the Oval.

 

It would me. We almost never do it outside the subcontinent even though I think it'd be a good idea.

[Guest LFD]

It would me. We almost never do it outside the subcontinent even though I think it'd be a good idea.

 

and I think Monty might have pissed on his chip in that regard.

[Trumo]

Quite a few hotties too

 

*standard forum response*

[Dan Vito Corleone]

Monty is done with England for a while. He's obviously got issues at the moment. Simon Kerrigan is probably the next spinner up if we ever go with two.

 

Having said that, Root appears to be the back up spinner at the moment.

[s(k)aturation]

I like Boof's thinking

 

Yep.

Khawaja and Smith out.

Two completely new batsmen needed for return series.

 

And time for Watson out.

Faulkner in.

 

There's a start.

 

And maybe Tim Paine for Haddin.

[Rico1304]

We saw Tremlett as he left Old Trafford on Day 2 of the OT test. He was being escorted by 2 big bouncers, no fucking idea why though because he was head and shoulders bigger than either of them. He looks more like an NFL player than cricketer. No wonder Warner didn't try and punch him.

[sir roger]

Monty is done with England for a while. He's obviously got issues at the moment. Simon Kerrigan is probably the next spinner up if we ever go with two.

 

Having said that, Root appears to be the back up spinner at the moment.

 

I'd like to see Rashid get a go as this is one of the few Ashes tests you are ever going to get a chance to experiment in. Hasn't bowled that well this season but has similar figures to Monty & the Oval surface will help. He is also averaging 71 with the bat.

 

If we are just looking to solidify the batting, I think we should be looking at better options than Bairstow going forward as he just looks short of the quality required. It's not like Root, who in my opinion just needs a bit of patience, I don't think Bairstow is good enough. The lad Ballance at Yorkshire looks a great prospect or maybe give Taylor another pop.

[Vincent Vega]

I don't think Bairstow has been helped by the failure of the top order. I think when he was picked we were hoping he would be coming in when we were 250 or 300 for 4, but he's had to bat in some real pressure situations, I think this is why Prior's game has also suffered. Both players like to attack but haven't really had the opportunity to do that in this series due to the bowlers being on top.

[sir roger]

I don't think Bairstow has been helped by the failure of the top order. I think when he was picked we were hoping he would be coming in when we were 250 or 300 for 4, but he's had to bat in some real pressure situations, I think this is why Prior's game has also suffered. Both players like to attack but haven't really had the opportunity to do that in this series due to the bowlers being on top.

 

It certainly hasn't helped him VV, but I just don't get the sense that he has the obvious raw materials to be a good test player. He looks to me a decent option in shorter forms of cricket if he doubles it up with a wicket-keeping gig, but as a test no.6 he doesn't look like he has it.

[TheBitch]

 

It certainly hasn't helped him VV' date=' but I just don't get the sense that he has the obvious raw materials to be a good test player. He looks to me a decent option in shorter forms of cricket if he doubles it up with a wicket-keeping gig, but as a test no.6 he doesn't look like he has it.[/quote']

 

I think he's got a similar temperament and technique to Bell. Hopefully he'll learn from him.

 

I like him. FYI, I liked Anderson before it was cool to like him. Stick with me Sir Rog', we'll go far.

[lifetime fan]

I think he's got a similar temperament and technique to Bell. Hopefully he'll learn from him.

 

I like him. FYI, I liked Anderson before it was cool to like him. Stick with me Sir Rog', we'll go far.

 

 

You mean when he had the red streak in his hair and was labeled the B*ckh*m of cricket?

[sir roger]

I think he's got a similar temperament and technique to Bell. Hopefully he'll learn from him.

 

I like him. FYI, I liked Anderson before it was cool to like him. Stick with me Sir Rog', we'll go far.

 

I hope you are right TB as I like the lad, I just can't see the talent there for a decent test career.

 

With Bell you could always see he had technique but his temperament was the big worry.

 

I was at an Achievers award in Manchester with my work when Jimmy A made his big breakthrough against Pakistan in the World Cup & ended up sitting in my room most of the night and getting loads of crap for being ignorant & only catching the dessert of the meal. Worth it though & I always remember Blowers saying on commentary ; By jove, I think we've found one !! '